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Galtaji Temple

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Overview

Galtaji Temple, popularly known as the Monkey Temple, is one of Jaipur’s most striking Hindu pilgrimage sites, set within a rocky gorge of the Aravalli hills about 10 km east of the city. Built into a natural mountain pass, the complex is a group of pink sandstone shrines, pavilions and holy kunds fed by a perennial mountain spring, dedicated principally to Lord Ram, Lord Hanuman and Surya (the Sun God).

Locally called Galta Ji or Galwar Bagh, the site takes its name from the sage Galav, who is said to have meditated here for centuries. Today it draws devotees, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, and travellers looking for a quieter corner of Jaipur, thanks to its resident troops of rhesus macaques and langurs, its haveli-style architecture, and its role as a long-standing seat of the Ramanandi Vaishnava tradition.

Location

Galta Ji, Khaniya Balaji, about 10 km east of Jaipur city centre

Timings

5:00 AM to 9:00 PM, open daily

Entry Fee

Generally free; some sources report small charges for foreign visitors and cameras

Time Required

2 to 3 hours
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What is the History of Galtaji Temple?

Galtaji, or Galta Ji, is a Hindu pilgrimage site set within a mountain pass in the Aravalli hills, named after the sage Galav, who is said to have meditated here for a hundred years and whose devotion is credited with the site’s perennial spring. The present temple complex was built in the 18th century in pink sandstone by Diwan Rao Kriparam, a courtier of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur, though the site had already been a retreat for ascetics of the Ramanandi Vaishnava sect since the early 1500s. It is popularly known as the Monkey Temple for the large troops of rhesus macaques and langurs that live in the gorge.
Legend holds that the gods, pleased with Galav’s penance, blessed the site with a stream of holy water that flows from the Gau-Mukh, a rock formation shaped like a cow’s head, and fills seven sacred kunds that never run dry. The Ramanandi ascetics took shelter in the gorge from the early 15th century onwards, and the tradition of the peeth here continues through a line of Acharyas to this day. The temple’s monkeys, meanwhile, became internationally known after the resident troop was featured in National Geographic’s Rebel Monkeys series (also released as Monkey Thieves), filmed in the gorge in the late 2000s.

Galtaji Through the Centuries

  • Ancient times: According to tradition, the sage Galav performs a hundred years of tapasya at the site, and the gods bless it with a perennial spring flowing from the Gau-Mukh.
  • Early 15th to 16th century: The gorge becomes an established retreat for ascetics of the Ramanandi Vaishnava sampradaya, the Hindu sect that worships Lord Ram.
  • 18th century: Diwan Rao Kriparam, a courtier at the court of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, builds the present temple complex, including the hilltop Surya Mandir (Sun Temple), in pink sandstone.
  • Late 2000s: The gorge's resident macaques are featured in National Geographic's Rebel Monkeys / Monkey Thieves series, giving the site international recognition as the Monkey Temple.
  • Present day: Galtaji remains an active pilgrimage site, drawing especially heavy footfall during Makar Sankranti in January, when thousands take a ritual dip in its holy waters.

Architecture of Galtaji Temple

Galtaji is unusual for a Hindu temple in that it looks more like a small royal palace or haveli than a traditional shrine. Built into a narrow gorge between two rock cliffs of the Aravalli range, the complex is worked in pink sandstone, with rounded, domed roofs, carved pillars, painted walls and pavilions that step down the hillside to the water tanks below. A yellow gate, Galwar Bagh, marks the entrance, and the interiors carry murals and frescoes drawn from Hindu mythology.
The site’s water is its defining feature. Seven sacred kunds are fed by a natural mountain spring, with water flowing into them from the Gau-Mukh, a rock spout shaped like a cow’s head. The largest and holiest is the Galta Kund, which is said to never run dry, and the smaller Surya Kund and Ram Kund sit at other levels of the gorge. High above the temple complex, on the eastern hilltop, stands the smaller Surya Mandir (Sun Temple), also built by Diwan Rao Kriparam, giving panoramic views over the whole Pink City.
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Main Attractions and Highlights at Galtaji Temple

A quick overview of the features worth your attention at the temple.
Galta Kund sacred water tank with stone steps and a carved temple spire reflected in green water against the Aravalli hills in Jaipur

The Sacred Kunds

The seven holy water tanks fed by the natural spring are the heart of Galtaji. The Galta Kund is the most sacred of them, believed to have curative properties and to never run dry even in the peak of Rajasthan's summer, and a dip here is considered particularly auspicious during Makar Sankranti and Kartik Purnima.

Green sacred tank at Galtaji Temple with a carved stone fountain, domed pavilions and monkeys on the ghats beneath forested Aravalli hills in Jaipur

Gau-Mukh Spring

The water enters the complex through the Gau-Mukh, a stone spout carved in the shape of a cow's head, from which the perennial stream is said to flow. According to tradition, the spring was granted to the sage Galav as a divine gift, and some devotees believe it carries the spiritual presence of the Ganga.

White shikhara of Surya Mandir rising behind red sandstone walls and an arched gateway on the hilltop above Galtaji in Jaipur

Surya Mandir (Sun Temple)

Built by Diwan Rao Kriparam on the highest peak above the gorge, this smaller shrine to the Sun God is reached by a climb of stone steps and gives panoramic views over Jaipur, the surrounding Aravalli hills, and the Galtaji complex itself below. Sunset is a particularly rewarding time to be up there.

Galtaji Temple, also known as the Monkey Temple, is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site set in a narrow mountain gorge in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

The Monkeys

Galtaji is home to large troops of rhesus macaques and langurs, which gave the temple its international nickname. The resident macaques were featured in National Geographic's Rebel Monkeys and Monkey Thieves, along with a Wildest India episode, and they are famously bold about snatching food from visitors' hands.

Marble shrine at Galtaji Temple in Jaipur with three carved deities, the central idol draped in purple cloth beneath carved Om symbols

The Shrines

Beyond the main temple, the complex houses smaller shrines to Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, Lord Hanuman, Lord Brahma, and Lord Ganesha, along with an ancient cave believed to be Galav's meditation site. It has been a seat of the Ramanandi Vaishnava tradition since the early 1500s.

Visitor Information for Galtaji Temple

Essential details to help you plan your visit with ease.

Best Time to Visit City Palace

  • Open Daily: 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM
  • Best Time to Visit: Early morning for the calmer atmosphere and softer light, or late afternoon for sunset from the Surya Mandir and the evening monkey activity around the kunds.
  • Best Season: October to March, when Jaipur's weather is at its most pleasant. Makar Sankranti in mid-January brings the largest crowds of pilgrims for the holy dip.

Entry Fee

  • Entry is generally free for all visitors.
  • Some sources report a small fee for foreign nationals and a nominal camera charge.

How to Reach

  • From Jaipur City Palace: 10 km (around 25 to 30 minutes by car)
  • From Jaipur Railway Station: 12 km (around 35 minutes)
  • From Jaipur Airport: 18 km (around 40 minutes)
  • Nearest Landmark: Sisodia Rani Garden, about 3 km away on the Agra Road
  • Transport: Reachable by car, taxi, or auto-rickshaw.

Tips for Visiting Galtaji Temple

Planning your visit to the Galtaji Temple with these practical tips will enhance your experience:
  • Keep all food and shiny belongings, including phones and glasses, secured in a closed bag: the macaques and langurs at Galtaji are practised opportunists and will snatch anything visible.
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes with grip. The path involves dozens of uneven stone steps and can be slippery near the water tanks.
  • Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, as this is an active pilgrimage site.
  • Avoid feeding the monkeys directly by hand: local vendors sell peanuts and bananas near the entrance for those who wish to feed them, but hand-feeding often ends in bites or grabs.
  • Time your visit for late afternoon if you want to reach the Sun Temple for sunset, one of the finest panoramic views of Jaipur.
  • Pair the trip with Sisodia Rani Garden nearby, since both sit along the Agra Road and can be seen on the same half-day out.
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Nearby Attractions to Galtaji Temple

Discover the notable sights and cultural landmarks located close to Galtaji Temple.
Painted palace facade and domed pavilions of Sisodia Rani Garden beside a green lawn with cypress trees against rocky Aravalli hills in Jaipur

Sisodia Rani Garden

A landscaped terraced garden about 3 km away on the Agra Road, built by Sawai Jai Singh II in 1728 for his Sisodia queen, known for its frescoes, fountains and pavilions.

Stone pathway leading to the sandstone walls, chhatris and pavilions of Vidyadhar Garden set against green Aravalli hills in Jaipur

Vidyadhar Garden

A short distance from Sisodia Rani Garden, this landscaped garden is named after Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, the chief architect who planned the city of Jaipur.

Saffron-coated idol of Lord Hanuman dressed in pink with marigold garlands inside a silver frame at Khole Ke Hanuman Ji Temple in Jaipur

Khole Ke Hanuman Ji Temple

A hilltop Hanuman temple in a nearby valley, popular with local devotees and known for its Tuesday and Saturday crowds.

Galtaji Temple in Jaipur by taking a taxi, auto-rickshaw, or Uber from the city center

Amer Fort

Around 15 km away, the UNESCO-listed hill fort of the Kachwaha dynasty, the historic seat of Jaipur's rulers before the founding of the modern city.

Suggested Itinerary

Morning drive from Jaipur to Galtaji, walk through the gorge and the seven kunds, climb to the Surya Mandir for panoramic views, then continue along the Agra Road to Sisodia Rani Garden for the afternoon before returning to the city.

FAQs

Find quick answers to common questions before planning your visit to Galtaji Temple.
1. Who built the Galtaji Temple, and when?
The present temple complex was built in the 18th century by Diwan Rao Kriparam, a courtier of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. The site had already been an ascetic retreat for centuries before that.
The site is named after the sage Galav, who is said to have meditated here for a hundred years in the ancient Satyug era. According to tradition, his devotion so pleased the gods that they blessed the gorge with a perennial spring that fills the seven sacred kunds.
Galtaji has been a retreat for Hindu ascetics of the Ramanandi Vaishnava sampradaya, the Hindu sect that worships Lord Ram, since the early 1500s, and it remains one of the tradition’s important seats in Rajasthan today.
Yes, the resident troop of rhesus macaques was featured in National Geographic’s Rebel Monkeys and Monkey Thieves series, and in a Wildest India episode, which is largely why the site is now known internationally as the Monkey Temple.
It is famous for its unusual setting in a rocky gorge of the Aravalli hills, its seven sacred kunds fed by a natural spring, its palace-like pink sandstone architecture, and its large troops of rhesus macaques and langurs.
The nickname comes from the hundreds of rhesus macaques and langurs that live in and around the temple complex, made internationally recognisable by the National Geographic series filmed there.
Entry is generally free for all visitors, though some sources report a small charge for foreign nationals and a nominal camera fee. Voluntary donations are also sometimes requested inside the complex.
The temple is open daily from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with early morning and late afternoon considered the best windows for a visit.
October to March gives the most comfortable weather. Makar Sankranti in mid-January and Kartik Purnima in November bring the largest crowds of pilgrims for the holy dip.
The macaques and langurs are generally not aggressive but are famously bold about snatching food, phones, glasses, and anything shiny. Keep belongings in a closed bag and avoid hand-feeding.
Galtaji is about 10 km east of Jaipur city centre, roughly a 25 to 30 minute drive from the City Palace.
The gorge involves dozens of uneven stone steps and a climb to reach the Surya Mandir, so it can be challenging for those with limited mobility, though the lower kunds are reachable with a shorter walk.
Comfortable shoes, a closed bag, water, and a hat or scarf for sun protection are the essentials. A camera is welcome but keep it in hand or in a bag rather than dangling from a strap.

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